Abstract: A broaching cutter comprises a first shaft coupled to a cutter bit-carrying second shaft in such a way that the second shaft rotates when the first shaft rotates and is also radially displaceable with respect to the first shaft so that the second shaft revolves about the axis of the first shaft in a preselected pattern. A rotor on the end of the first shaft carries a connector in a slot in such a way that the connector is free to slide within the slot. The connector is attached to the second shaft and to a cam follower. As the connector slides, it displaces the second shaft radially with respect to the axis of rotation. The first shaft rotates within a stationary holder that has a cam race encircling the first shaft. The cam follower follows the cam race in the stationary holder, thereby varying the radial displacement of the connector. Thus, square, hexagonal or other shaped holes can be formed in a workpiece depending on the shape of the cam race.

Abstract: A tool for rotary chip removal machining includes a cutting head, a retention element and a shank. The cutting head includes a rear mounting portion and the retention element includes a front retaining portion. The mounting and retaining portion present forwardly facing and rearwardly facing surfaces, respectively, which engage one another for retaining the cutting head in the shank. The hook of the cutting head is asymmetrical with respect to the axis and is larger than the hook of the retention element. The cutting head includes a central flushing channel for conducting a flushing medium. The channel extends through the mounting portion of the cutting head for reducing the mass of that hook. The retention element includes a central channel which does not extend through the retaining portion.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a reconfigurable gantry tool and a reconfigurable tool system. The reconfigurable tool includes a platform, a reconfigurable holding mechanism, a gantry frame, a multi-axis numerically controlled robotic tool, a multi-movement control device coupled to the mobile multi-axis tool, and a rotatable and translatable sine plate. The reconfigurable gantry tool system comprises a plurality of reconfigurable gantry tools strategically coupled to one another to form a non-matrix assembly line. Other tooling systems can be coupled to and/or within the reconfigurable gantry tool system for performing additional operations.

Abstract: The invention comprises a vertical milling machine having a J-head and a manually adjustable spindle for the rapid change of a tool held in said spindle, including a milling machine head having a motor means for rotatively moving the spindle about its longitudinal axis. An elongated draw bar is rotatively supported within the spindle. A compressive spring is arranged between the top end of the draw bar and the top end of the spindle. An enclosure cap is attached to the head, so as to limit vertical advance of the draw bar, a coupling arranged at the lower end of the draw bar, and a collet with a pull stud thereon, is arranged in mating engagement with the coupling, wherein the collet and a tool therein are released as the spindle is moved longitudinally upwardly with respect to the collet.

Abstract: This invention makes it possible to freely exchange an attachment 20, to which is connected a flexible cable 21 used as an energy supply line and a signal line, on an end surface of a ram 13 of a spindle head of a machine tool having a plurality of control axes. Support means 26a, 26b, and 28 supports the cable in such a manner that this cable 21 can follow the motions of the spindle head. A conveyor means conveys the attachment between an attachment/detachment position at the end surface of the ram 13 and a position at which the attachment 20 is stored, with the cable 21 still connected thereto. The automatic attachment exchange apparatus of this invention automatically exchanges attachments while cables, such as energy supply cords and signal lines, are still connected to the attachments, thus resolving the inconvenience of connecting and disconnecting cables.

Abstract: The invention provides a machine tool comprising a base member, a workpiece support means mounted on the base member, a toolhead support means mounted on the base member, a toolhead assembly mounted on the toolhead support means, rotatable about a given axis relative to the toolhead support means, at least two tools mounted on the toolhead assembly, having axes radially disposed and circumferentially spaced relative to the given axis, a means for operating a selected one of the tools when the selected tool is disposed in a predetermined position relative to the workpiece support means operatively interconnecting the toolhead support means and the toolhead assembly for selectively, rotatably indexing the toolhead assembly about the given axis to position a selected one of the tools in the predetermined position; and means for locking the toolhead assembly relative to the toolhead support means when a selected one of the tools is disposed in the predetermined position.

Abstract: A wire harness producing apparatus has a wire reel supply section (1), a wire inlet section, primary and secondary sections (3, 4), a wire measuring section (5), a wire-cutting section (6), upstream and downstream connector attachment sections (7,8), a wire harness discharge section (9), and cam drives for propelling the primary and secondary chuck sections subsequent to the cutting of electric wires thereby separating cut wires from the remaining wires extending out from the supply reel. The cam drives are also used to operate the wire-cutting section and the upstream and downstream pressing sections in their crimping of connectors onto the cut wires and the remaining wire extensions and also operating the wire harness discharge section to discharge assembled harnesses to a subsequent staging area. The use of these cam drives permits a substantial reduction of the time involved for making the wire harnesses.

Abstract: The present invention is a mobile tool positioning system including a support assembly, a mobile multi-axis, numerically controlled robotic tool, and a multi-movement control device coupled to the mobile multi-axis tool. The support assembly is located adjacent a workpiece and has a plurality of engagers. The mobile multi-axis, numerically controlled robotic tool has proximity sensors removably attached to the engagers. The mobile tool can therefore be detachably coupled to the support assembly. The proximity sensors precisely locate and align the mobile tool with the support assembly before being coupled. In addition, the mobile tool can have a self leveling system with a configurable memory. As such, precision tooling operations can be performed on the workpiece.

Abstract: A machining center comprises a plurality of machine tools arranged along a track, each of which has a working space, accessible through an operator door, for machining workpieces present in a receptacle. In addition, a loading system is provided for transporting the workpieces between the individual machine tools and for exchanging the workpieces on the machine tools through a loading opening that can be closed off by the respective operator door. At least some of the machine tools perform different machining operations in succession on the same workpiece. The loading system comprises a transport track, arranged on the machine tools for manually moving the workpieces from one machine tool to the next.

Abstract: A grooving tool on a tool holder having a machining portion which is inserted into a circular work-hole formed in a workpiece provides grooves of predetermined width on the inner surface of said work-hole by moving the machining portion relatively and simultaneously in the axial and circumferential directions in the work-hole. The machining portion further comprises a machining tip portion consisting of an axial cutting edge, formed in parallel with the axial direction and a circumferential cutting edge, formed along the circumferential direction. Each of the lengths of the axial cutting edge and the circumferential cutting edge are set such that grooves of a predetermined width can be formed in the hole by relatively moving the axial cutting edge and the circumferential cutting edge.

Abstract: A system for performing machining operations on different portions of workpieces comprising a plurality of workstations including a lathe disposed along a predetermined path, in the present instance, a circular path. A turntable supports a plurality of workpiece chucking devices equi-spaced circumferentially around the turntable. The turntable rotates relative to the workstations to position a workpiece chucking device at each workstation permitting different machining operations to be performed on workpieces simultaneously. The chucking devices are moveable on the turntable in a radial direction to present the workpieces to the various tools at the workstations. The workpiece chucking devices include spindle motors and means for synchronizing the speeds of the spindle motors of the chucking devices with the lathe motor.

Abstract: Improvement in connection to an automatic crimper (6) which operates in the known manner to divide leads (1) into groups (1a,1b,1c, etc.), before crimping one ends of the leads to branching connectors (2) and crimping the other ends of all the leads to a common connector (3) so as to form a multiple harness (4). Subsequently, the crimper drives the branching connectors to travel in parallel and in unison with the common connector along a pair of delivery rails (7) until discharged from the rails. The improvement resides in that the branching connectors (2) are caused to take a position close to the common connector (3) so that leads in each group are folded double, then the leads are gathered to form a compact bundle (1') before being tied with tapes (5) which serve as an easily breakable binding material.

Abstract: A fast feeder unit for an automatic machine for machining the cylindrical surface of bottle closure caps, including a feeder carousel, which is provided with devices for supporting and rotationally actuating it coaxially and in step with the carousel of the machine and whereon a plurality of axially slidable stems are mounted; the stems direct, towards the chucks of the machine, respective half-shells for supporting the caps and are connected to respective axial translatory motion devices adapted to move the half-shells from a position that is spaced from the chucks and co-planar to the openings of a fixed guide for feeding the caps to be machined and of a fixed guide for removing the machined caps, to a position for fitting a cap on the chuck and a position for removing the cap from the chuck.

Abstract: A combination tool exchanger and storage device adapted to be fitted to a die cutter for exchanging and storing a plurality of profiled cutter dies each having a cutter blade of a different configuration. The die cutter is for cutting a sheet-like material by urging the sheet-like material against a selected one of the profiled cutter dies retained within a cutter die mounting chamber. The combination tool exchanger and storage device includes retaining arms for holding one of the profiled cutter dies so as to confront a first entrance leading to the cutter die mounting chamber and for sliding the profiled cutter die horizontally towards the cutter die mounting chamber, a cutter die storage chamber disposed above or below the die cutter, and an elevator unit for selectively driving the retaining arms between a first position aligned with the first entrance leading to the cutter mounting chamber and a second position aligned with a second entrance leading to the cutter die storage chamber.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer provides an attachment to be easily clamped if the attachment is mounted to a spindle head. Conical disk springs are arranged between the bevel gear for rotating a tool spindle supported by bearings at the center of an attachment body and the spline shaft projecting from the lower end of a shank member of the attachment to be mounted to the main spindle and inserted into the central part of the bevel gear. If the shank member is drawn up by a collet, the conical disk springs are compressed, and large diameter coupling provided at the attachment body engages with a large diameter coupling provided at the lower end face of a spindle ram. The attachment is thereby fixed to a spindle head and the turning torque of the main spindle is transmitted to a tool held by the attachment.

Abstract: A plant for producing metal heat exchanger tubes with spiral heat exchanger ribs secured to the exterior surface from smooth tubes and strip-form flat material for the ribs. In order to allow ribbed tubes to be economically produced at any desired location, the main plant units needed to produce the ribbed tubes, such as a rotating device, strip conveyor and joining device, are installed in one or more mobile container-type modules in production order.

Abstract: For the change of tools of machine tool operating units, a device is provided which comprises a tool-holder support or carriage (144,204) on which there are mounted at least two tool-holder spindles (48,148) with a corresponding tool (50,150), and the axis of at least one of these at least two tool-holder spindles is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the axis of the spindle (10,110) of the operating unit. Means controlled by the spindle (10,110) of the operating unit pivot this support or carriage (44,204) and the corresponding at least one tool-holder spindle (48,148) by this predetermined angle, in order to position the required tool-holder in axial alignment with this spindle (10,110).

Abstract: There is now provided a method of machining and shaping a through opening in a fiber-reinforced composite material starting from a preformed hole. At least one rotation symmetrical milling body with a substantially smaller diameter than that of the preformed hole is placed in that hole and the opening is machined and shaped by the milling body partly rotating around its own axis, partly by a translational movement relative to the edge of the opening. According to the method, the fiber-reinforced material is oriented in such a way that the axis of rotation of the milling body is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fibers at the edge of the opening. The size and/or form of the finished opening differs significantly from that of the preformed hole. The radial spread of the damages and/or the defects define a lower limit for the amount of material removed.

Abstract: A device for engraving intaglio cylinders and similar printing forms having an engraving tool which, together with a sensing member sensing the surface of the printing form to be engraved, is mounted in a holder movable relative to the surface of the printing form. The sensing member is a distance measuring member which contactlessly measures the distance from the surface of the printing form. On the basis of the distance measured from the distance-measuring member, the holder is adjusted relative to the surface of the printing form by an adjusting element, for maintaining a predetermined tool distance between the engraving tool and the surface to be engraved.

Abstract: The rotary transfer machine for machining a workpiece using fixed-cycle control has a centrally disposed rotary indexing table which is driven according to a fixed cycle, can rotate about a vertical axis and at the outer circumference of which a plurality of clamping means for holding a workpiece are disposed radially at a spacing from one another, and a plurality of machining units for machining the workpieces, which units are disposed around the outer circumference of the rotary table such that they lie substantially opposite corresponding clamping means in an indexed position of the rotary indexing table.